Butler basketball: Finally healthy, Stainton Forbes aims to emerge this season
Stainton Forbes wasn’t feeling like himself.
A painful hip injury refused to let up, and the optimism he had about healing had given way to discouragement and a whole lot of doubt about where his basketball career was headed.
“Am I gonna be hurt forever?” the then-junior Butler guard remembered asking himself as he trudged along last season.
Even as his parents noticed something was off and asked why he’d been so quiet, Forbes would deflect, chalking it up to being tired after a long day of school and practice. In reality, stress had piled up.
He’d retreat to be on his own and admitted that he would sometimes break down in tears by himself. It felt like it would take forever for him to get back to full health like he has this season, averaging 17.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game for the Golden Tornado, who have started 3-2 ahead of a WPIAL Section 1-6A road matchup with New Castle on Friday night.
It was just over a year ago that Forbes had gone up for a dunk and landed awkwardly on the hardwood. That was after he’d dealt with tendonitis in his knee.
“I just stopped saying how I was really feeling,” Forbes said. “I don’t know if I thought … I was just supposed to be tough and (carry) it on my shoulders, hold all of that weight.”
One night, after a particularly trying day, his mother reminded him about a chore, then the dam broke.
“I snapped back at her — and that’s something, like, you never do that,” Forbes said. “My parents, obviously, they got on me for doing that. I was just standing there. You know how it is when parents are getting on you. … I stood there and listened. I apologized and everything.”
Then, he finally admitted what his parents had picked up on for some time. A heartfelt conversation followed, helping Forbes realize he wasn’t in it alone.
This go-round, Forbes is remembering what it feels like to play injury-free.
“I just feel like I haven’t really shown what I’m capable of doing yet because of all of the injuries that I’ve had and how much those have set me back,” Forbes said. “I feel like this year, as long as I stay healthy, this is the year I can really show everybody how good I really am and how much potential I have on the next level, as well.”
He missed a total of eight games with the hip ailment, and wasn’t fully healthy even when he did get on the floor. He was still driven to do what was needed in order to make an impact, even if that meant passing or rebounding more.
“I just was questioning, ‘Is this really what I’m supposed to be doing? All of the years of working hard, is this really what I’m gonna have to be dealing with?’” Forbes said.
After venting to his parents, Forbes began tapping into his spirituality. He wanted to be more present, even if that simply meant saying hi to or holding a door open for a stranger. Basketball, of course, was always there for him, too.
“It’s honestly a way for me to just step away from all the different things,” Forbes said. “I feel like I really don’t have to think (on the court). It’s a way for me to just express myself and just really let go … of all of the things I’m feeling.”
By the time fall open gyms had gotten underway, Forbes could run and jump without any pain.
“It’s definitely taught me I can’t take the time I have on the court for granted,” Forbes said. “I’m not gonna be able to play the game forever, but those injuries definitely have taught me to play every game, practice like I’m not gonna be able to play basketball after that day.”
He has his heart set on continuing his basketball career at the collegiate level. Entering his senior campaign, he had offers from Washington & Jefferson and has visited Allegheny College, Penn State Behrend and Case Western Reserve, according to his X.
Slippery Rock University offered Forbes earlier this week.
“I really like the places that I’ve been so far, but I’m still trying to (wait) it out a little bit and see what best opportunities I can still reach,” Forbes said.
